Chapter 22 - The Unopened File At Norfolk
At 6:00 a.m. the following morning, a sleek black military jet touched down on the tarmac at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.
Claire, Marcus, and Victor walked through the high-security corridors of the naval intelligence facility under heavy armed escort.
They were guided into a subterranean concrete chamber located four floors beneath the bay, where the historic archives were kept.
Standing near Vault 4 was an elderly naval admiral in full service uniform, his chest covered in distinguished military medals.
“Mrs. Sterling, Mr. Dupont,” Admiral Vance—Claire’s distant uncle who had served forty years in naval intelligence—greeted them solemnly.
He inserted a master keycard into Vault 4, swinging the reinforced steel door open to reveal a single silver briefcase sitting on a pedestal.
Claire stepped forward, placing her hand over the silver briefcase, feeling the cold metal beneath her fingertips as the admiral spoke his final warning.
“Inside this case is the ultimate secret your grandfather died trying to protect, Claire,” Admiral Vance whispered quietly.
“It contains the names of the five international corporate leaders who funded both sides of the Cold War defense network.”
“And the first name on that list is a man who is currently running for President of the United States.”
Claire’s breath hitched in her throat as she slowly lifted the silver latches of the briefcase, the metal clicking loudly in the quiet vault.
As the lid lifted, revealing an encrypted digital screen that began to illuminate her face, her smartphone vibrated in her coat pocket.
She pulled out her phone to see an incoming call from an unknown international number carrying a private diplomatic code from Washington D.C.
May you like
A cold, familiar voice answered the moment she placed the phone to her ear, sending a final, thrilling surge of suspense through her heart:
“Good morning, Claire,” the mysterious voice spoke softly over the line. “I suggest you close that briefcase before you make a mistake you can never undo.”
